Louis h



"(No Model.)

L. H. BRITTON. SHEET METAL R001.

No. 487,172. Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

ean I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS I-I. BRITTON, OF NEW LISBON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JACOB B. \VARNER, OF SAME PLACE.

SHEET-METAL ROOF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,172, dated November 29, 1892. Application filed June 6, 1892. Serial No. 485,691. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LoUIs I-I. BRITTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Lisbon, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Roofs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metallic roofing wherein metallic sheets are connected by standing-seams composed of upturned flanges on the roofing-sheets and metallic cap-pieces embracing the flanges. In roofs of this construction the effect of wind under certain conditions or at certain times prod uces a partial vacuum or sucking motion, which has a tendency to lift the metallic roofing-sheets, and the strain is thrown in a large measure on the cap-pieces, which are weakest at the top or apex, where they are bent to embrace the upturned flanges on the sheet-metal-roofing plates by reason of the leverage or pressure exerted by the roofing-plates being concentrated at this point, which frequently causes the cap-piece to break and produce a leaky roof. To avoid this objection is the main object of myinvention; and to this end it consists, essentially, in the standing seam of a sheet-metal roof, having the bent or folded lineof theoap-piece formed with crimps which extend from the top edge or apex of the cap-piece downward toward the base thereof and interlock with the top edges of the upturned or vertical flanges of the roofing-plates in such manner that the cap-piece is materially strengthened and can only give or spring from the bottom or base thereof to the lower portions or ends of the crimps, thereby equalizing and distributing the strain over that part of the cap-piece where it can do the least injury, whereby the cap is not liable to become loose under ordinary conditions by the combined movements of the roofing-plates incident to the partial vacuum or sucking motion produced by the wind.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of sufficient of a sheet-metal roof to illustrate my inven tion. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through one of the crimps, and Fig. 3is a perspective view showing the parts separated to illustrate the crimps in the top edges of the upturned flanges.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in 'detail, referring to the drawings, wherein The numerals 1 and 2 indicate sheet-metal roofing-plates having their edge portions formed with upturned or vertical flanges 3 and 4, which are embraced by a cap-piece composed of a strip of sheet metal folded longitudinally along its median line for the purpose of producing side flanges 5 and 6, which embrace the upturned flanges 3 and 4.

After this sheet-metal cap-piece has been applied to the upturned flanges it is formed with reversely-arranged crimps 7 and 8, which interlock with the top edges of the upturned flanges and extend from the apex or top edge 9 of the cap-piece downward toward the base thereof. The lateral crimps 7 and 8 extend in reverse directions for the purpose of producing a duplex interlocking engagement between the apex of the cap-piece and the extreme top edges of the upturned flanges, so that the cap-piece is strengthened and can only give or spring from its bottom or base to the bottom or lower ends of the crimps, thereby equalizing and distributing the strain over that part of the cap where it can do the least injury. The lateral crimps in the top edges of the upturned flanges are more clearly represented in Fig. 3, and in this figure the several parts are represented as separated from each other; but it will be understood that the lateral reversely-arranged crimps in the cap-piece and in the upturned flanges are not produced until after the cap-piece has been placed upon the flanges. Inasmuch as the top edges of the upturned flanges are interlocked with the apex of the cap-piece by the lateral crimps, it is impossible for the cap-piece to become loose when subjected to the strain and pressure incident to the movements of the sheet-metal roofing-plates when subjected to the action of the wind.

As before stated, the eifect of the wind under certain conditions produces a partial vacuum or sucking motion, the tendency of which is to raise the metallic sheets from the roof, so that the strain or pressure is thrown in a very large measure ,on the cap-pieces. These cap-pieces are weakest at the top or apex, where they are bent or folded to produce the side flanges 5 and 6, and since the leverage or pressure exerted by the combined movements of the roofing-plates is concentrated at the top or apex of the cap-pieces the latter are frequently broken, and a leaky roof is the result. It has been proposed to punch-rivet the standing seam, as in Letters Patent No. 146,555, issued January 20, 1874; but such construction does not prevent the breakage of the top or apex of the cap-piece, and consequently does not prevent a leaky roof. The cap-piece is ordinarily weakest at the bend or top by reason of the leverage of the sheet-metal roofing-plates, which leverage results from the combined movements of the plates when the wind produces a partial Vacuum or sucking motion, which tends to lift the plates from the roof. The punch-rivet will not prevent the cap-piece from working loose at the top orapex; but by extending the re\-'ersely-arranged crimps from the top or apex of the cap-pieces downward toward the base thereof the cap-piece is strengthened and is effectually prevented from working loose at the top or apex, and it can only give or spring from its bottom or base to the bottom or lower ends of the crimps, thereby equalizing and distributing the strain over that part of the cap where it cannot do much injury.

The lateral reversely-arranged crimps produce a duplex interlocking engagement at various points between the top or apex of the cap-piece and the top edges of the upturned flanges, and such lateralcrimpsimpart considerable stifin ess to the cap-piece, so that it is strengthened and the results before mentioned are attained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A sheet-metal roof having a standing scam in which the bent or folded line of the cap-piece is formed with lateral crimps which interlock with the top edges of the upturned flanges of the roofing-plates and extend from the top or apex of the cap-piece downward toward the base thereof, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A sheet-metal roof having a standing seam in which the bent or folded lineof the cappiece is formed with pairs of reversely-arranged lateral crimps to interlock with the top edges of the upturned flanges of the roofing-plates and extending from the top or apex of the cap-piece downward toward the base thereof, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS H. BRITTON. [L. s]

Witnesses:

HENRY W. MORROW, CLYDE R. KENLY. 

